The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-26
BORDER BAD MEN.
Wild Bill was the King of Them all and
Had Many Good Traits.
From the Louisville courier-Jom.naI.

From the Louisville Courier-JoWaaI.
Unquestionably the king of the "bad'
men who infested the border was James B.
Hickok, better known as "Wild Bill. =
Pages and almost volumes have been writ
ten about him, mostly in laudatory vein.
While, undoubtedly, he did not merit near
all of these fattering lines, still there was
some cause for sounding his praises. He
certainly was decided Improvement over
the generality of the border KILLERS" He
was chivalrous, generous and possessed of
many gentlemanly instincts, and had it not
been for his foudneSs.of drinking, gambling
and killing people, he would have been Q
desirable addition to any community.
Be it said to his honor that he never
harmed any one but thugs, outlaws and
killers" with whom he came in contact,
and often then in defense of self or friend.
At different times wild Bill" appeared
at various Kansas towns that were then
bully-ridden, and almost invariably the au-
thorities utilized his abilities as a pistol
wielder by appointing him Marshal.
Such was the case in the early days of
Hays City, Kan, and, from 1867 to 1862, be
occupied this Office so successfully that a
great many Of the toughs left town or were
unable to do so by reason of having been
the victims of differences between them
selves aud the City Marshal.
In 1869 wild Billo was a candidate for
the Office OF Sheriff, but was. defeated by
Peter Lanahan. This disguised him SO
much that he L TT Hays Clay, never to re
turn. Soon after "Wild Bills" departure
there was much need OF his return. There
turned up" in Hays City one OF the most
finished specimens Of personiiled devilish-
ness that ever cursed border town with
his murderous presence.
This Tin, IL.
thoroughly evil that be seemed absolutely
not to possess a single redeeming quality
Unlike many killers. he did not confine
his attentions to other things or persons
who had opposed or injured him, but MUIR
dered, seemingly. for the pleasure of killing.
No one was safe from his attacks and
during his stay he created almost a reign OF
terror. Detailed accounts of his deeds OF
blood and outlawry would fill a volume of
goodly size, but the reader would turn from
il, sick with horror at the recital of his de-
moniacal depravity.
Colored men were his favorite victims.
and he killed several Of them for no other
reason than that theyweIe black Accounts
differ as to how many negroes We're muir
dered by him, the number being placed all
the way from four to eleven. However, il
is an established fact that he threw the
bodies into a dry well, where they more
than covered the bottom. 1t is said that he
frequently boosted that he would completely
fill his ''nigger well" if the supply of colored
men held out.
A newcomer by the name of Brady was
murdered by Curry, who cut his victims
head nearly off with a bowie knife and
threw the body into box-car He fastened
the door, and it was supposed that he ex-
pected the train that took the car would
bear the body away Ii was removed, how
ever, and buried by friends.
Curry was not interfered with, for the
reason that no enc cared TO face almost GER
tain death by molesting him. Finally,
however, came the crime that fully aroused
the law-abiding citizens to concerted action,
While staggering up the street Curry met
late conner in the person of harmless, in
offensive boy of 10, Estes by name. The
Desperate commanded him to hold up his
hands, and was promptly obeyed. Estes,
knowing the devilish character Of the man,
begged most piteously for his life, but
Curry only ieered at his appeal. Then,
placing his revolver to the boys breast, he
shot him dead, and, stepping over the body,
continued his way up the street. While
the thoroughly enraged citizens were organ
izing to put an end for good and all to the
murderer Curry quietly dec mped. A
month later he was found in a gully 100
miles away with bullet through his head.
His slayer was never known, but it was
generally believed that relative of one OF
bis victims followed and wreaked a just
vengeance upon him.
While the vigilantes failed to get Jim
Curry, they succeeded in accomplishing a
great deal Of good by protecting the better
class of citizens when the law was unable to
do so. The worst criminals were given a
short shift and long rope" or escaped
never TO return. Many of the less advanced
cases of criminality were simply run OUT
and solemnly warned never to visit Hays
City again 1t is almost needless to add
that the warning was needed in all cases.
backed as It was by ready revolvers and an
abundance of rope The rule Of the vigil
lants lasted little over a year, and then,
becoming lax, the toughs gained the ascend
ancy. This reign of terror covered period
Of two years, and then waned as the long
dormant power of the law began to assert
itself. Although bathed in blood, as was
Hays City in its infancy, to-day there is not
town in Kansas that has more law
abiding, intelligent class of citizens.